What We Do

We teach parents how to parent and kids how to cope during a parent’s illness. Through activities, children and teens gain:

Age-appropriate understanding of illness, treatments and side effects

Strategies for expressing feelings related to changes in the family

Skills for coping with stress, anger, sadness and fear

Connections to peers sharing similar experiences

First Meeting

Before a child or teen starts with Wonders & Worries, parents and caregivers are asked to meet the staff who will be working with their family. This builds the foundation for staff and parents to support a child or teen, together.

The parent intake meeting can occur at a Wonders & Worries office, treatment facility or hospital, in a home or over the phone. It takes about one hour.

Individual Sessions

We work with each family to determine if the child or teen would thrive best in individual sessions or group sessions. For example, siblings may meet together or have separate support plans.

Using the exclusive Wonders & Worries Illness Education and Coping Curriculum, the sessions are customizable. The individual sessions are free of charge and available for ages 2-18.

Group Sessions

Group sessions are also free of charge and are designed for children age 5-18 years, with groups aligned by age.

Group support gives children and teens the opportunity to bond with others who are experiencing similar situations and provide an outlet for learning and sharing.

New Wonderers Six-Session Groups

New Wonderers groups are designed for children and teens who are new to Wonders & Worries.

These groups are separated by age, with elementary school-aged children meeting together and middle school-aged children meeting together. Based on the curriculum, the six-session groups are customized to the needs of the children and teens.

No Worries Monthly Check-in Groups

No Worries monthly check-in groups are offered for children and teens who already completed the Wonders & Worries initial six-session support. These monthly groups allow children and teens to check-in as needed, and are available for:

Elementary school-aged children who have a parent with an ongoing illness

Elementary school-aged children who have experienced the loss of a parent

Middle-school or high-school tweens/teens who have a parent with an ongoing illness or have experienced the loss of a parent

Parenting Support

Parenting while ill – or during a spouse’s illness – is uniquely challenging. We offer parenting classes, parent support groups and other tools that can be used independently or alongside services for children and teens.

Parent Consultations

Parent consultations keep parents and caregivers involved throughout the support process. They happen in person, over the phone or through email.

During consultations, parents can discuss and receive feedback on their child’s understanding and coping. This also gives parents the opportunity to ask questions and to update us on illness information.

Parenting Training

The child-parent relationship can become harder to navigate after a parent or caregiver has been diagnosed with a serious illness. To make the transition easier, we offer periodic parenting classes. These classes are designed for parents of children ages five to 18. Free childcare and a meal are included.

Helpline (1-844-WE-WONDER)

If you are unable to come to one of our offices for in-person support, you can call our helpline at 1-844-WE-WONDER (844-939-6644) and connect with Wonders & Worries’ expert staff on how to talk to children and teens about any adult illness.

Family Fun Events

Family Fun events are opportunities for children and teens to break away from the stress of a parent’s illness. These events give families the opportunity to relax and enjoy time together, while meeting other families facing similar situations.

The following events are hosted by Wonders & Worries:

Hoping Hearts Bowling Party

Urban Family Scavenger Hunt

Ladybird Lake Bat Cruise

Costumed Festifall

Bereavement Support

If a family connects with Wonders & Worries before a loss occurs, they are welcome to receive bereavement support. However, if the loss has already occurred, families will be guided to other grief resources, including: